All Things Bubba

Tony Cingrani, March 3, 2013

Tony Cingrani looked a bit overmatched in spring training this year. He was assigned to the AAA Louisville Bats, and it wasn't really a surprise.

But he was terrific on the mound for minor league opening day last night. Six innings pitched, no hits, no runs, 1 walk...and 14 (!!!) strikeouts. Holy guacamole.

"DougDirt," who runs a blog devoted to Reds prospects, said Cingrani's breaking stuff was the best he'd ever seen from him. (There's a GIF here.)

There's been a lot of doubt about whether Cingrani can hack it as a starter, because he doesn't have enough pitches, but it looks like the Reds are serious about giving him a chance.

Meanwhile, the Yankees released David Aardsma. He was DFA'd Friday, and unconditionally released yesterday. Girardi explained why they cut him:

"I think the role we're looking for from that guy is probably a little bit more distance," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been more of a one-inning guy and a save guy, and our seventh, eighth and ninth is pretty locked in. We just felt that he didn't really fit exactly. He's rehabbed, he's worked his butt off to get to this point, and hopefully it works out for him."

Aardsma looked good in spring training, and is likely to find a job somewhere.

Labels: David Aardsma, Tony Cingrani